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The WebCAPE placement test is required, but non-binding, for all students who begin language study in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, or Spanish in a course higher than 101.


You may take this test on-line at home or in an NKU computer lab. The WebCAPE placement test is not compatible with the AOL browser. If you use AOL as your internet service provider, please take the placement test on campus in one of the computing labs.

NKU offers retroactive credit for students who begin their study of a language at a level beyond the beginning course through the World Language Incentive Program (WLIP). If you plan to apply for WLIP, you must normally take the WebCAPE exam before the end of your first week of language study at Northern.

We offer three other possibilities for credit for previous language study: AP credit, CLEP credit, and IB credit.  WLIP is the most generous of the four options.

The placement policy reminds you that you cannot receive credit for a general studies course in a particular language that is lower than one you have already completed. 

If you have questions, please contact the Chair, Dr. Connelly, Department of World Languages and Literatures, at 859-572-7650 or e-mail her at connellyc1@nku.edu. Please include your student ID number and a current daytime phone number in your e-mail.